Frequently Asked Questions on Jewelry

Cut - The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. Too shallow and light is lost out the bottom causing the diamond to lose brilliance (ie shine or sparkle). Too deep and light escapes out the sides causing the diamond to appear dark and dull.

Carat - The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. Since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller diamonds, diamond value tends to rise exponentially with carat weight.

Color - Acting as a prism, a diamond can divide light into a spectrum of colors and reflect this light as colorful flashes called fire. Just as when looking through colored glass, color in a diamond will act as a filter, and will diminish the spectrum of color emitted. The less color in a diamond, the more colorful the fire, and the better the color grade.

Clarity - Diamonds that are absolutely clear are the most sought-after and therefore the most expensive. But many diamonds have inclusions — scratches, trace minerals or other tiny characteristics that can detract from the pure beauty of the diamond. Clarity is graded based on the number, location, size, and type of the inclusions found in a diamond.

January - Garnet or Rose Quartz
February - Amethyst or Onyx
March - Aquamarine or Bloodstone
April - Diamond or Rock Crystal (Quartz)
May - Emerald or Chrysoprase
June - Alexandrite or Moonstone or Pearl
July - Ruby or Carnelion
August - Peridot or Sardonyx
September - Sapphire or Lapis
October - Opal or Tourmaline
November - Topaz or Citrine
December - Tanzanite, Blue Zircon or Turquoise